Bearhawk Tailwheel with T3 Spring

[Enewton57]

Just wanted to share this with you guys who are considering a T3 spring option with one of my Bearhawk Tailwheels. Here is the email from my customer.

Hi Eric,
I received your 10” leaf spring tailwheel and am thoroughly impressed with your work. That thing is a beauty! I’ve been working through some fit issues with the T3 suspension and have just recently installed the 10” tailwheel and the T3 on my Patrol.
I’ve flown it 3 times thus far and am impressed with both the T3 and your tailwheel.

Today I came across an issue while moving the airplane on the ground with the tailwheel free as I was pushing the airplane backwards away from the gas pumps. The 10” tire is too big to swivel 360 degrees, it hits the bottom spring of the T3. Obviously a T3 issue and not a tailwheel issue. So, here’s my question, can I take my Bearhawk 8” tailwheel that was mounted on the Patrol’s stinger and remove the fork and tire and install it to the new leaf spring tailwheel body, giving me a fully functional 8” Bearhawk leaf spring tailwheel? I’m fairly sure that the 8” tire will be able to freely swivel under the T3 spring. I’ve attached a couple of photos of the installation and one photo of the conflict that I’m talking about.

[yateselden]

As it is necessary to mill the width down to 1 1/2" for the T3 to fit your tailwheel. I will also mill the top from 0 at the tail end to 1/16" - 1/8" deep at the forward end of the tailwheel pocket location on the T3, all being radius cuts. This should give enough change in angle for the wheel to clear. Do you think a slight angle change would change the handling much?

[Bcone1381]

How does one modify a Patrol fuselage designed for a stinger tailwheel spring attachment to fit the leaf spring?

[m.mooney]

See my new post reviewing the T3, it explains the mounting of it to the Patrol

Mike

[JimParker256]

Link to m.mooney's review thread: https://bearhawkforums.com/forum/pro...on-on-a-patrol

[Enewton57]

An update for those considering using the Bearhawk Tailwheel with a T3 mount. As a review, customers were finding that their 10” Tailwheels were not clearing the T3 device at full reverse swivel (like when you are pushing your airplane back into the hangar)

I am working with a customer who requested a 10” tailwheel slightly modified. After speaking with Bob, we made a 10” tailwheel with slightly more angle on the kingpin as it attaches to the fork. The angle was increased from 26 degress to 30 degrees.

The customer requested I leave it unpainted in case further modification was needed. As you can see in the pictures, the tire now clears with about 1/2” clearance.
8A6B8889-B59F-4307-B2DF-1A4BA509A876.jpg62FC9E43-FD2C-4B62-B6E4-7B358400449D.jpg

If you decide to order a Tailwheel to use with T3 mount, let me know and I will build you one at the higher angle.

Eric Newton
Bearhawk Tailwheels and Manuals

http://bhtailwheels.com

[AKKen07]

That is cool!

[John Bickham]

Eric,

That is neat! I have been very close to giving you and/or Bob a call on this exact option. While I would love to have a T3 mount, I think there are applications for this with bigger main tires for backcountry. You know Bob's original intention and design was for normal 6" tires. As we push Bob's design into the backcountry and bigger main tires, over the nose visibility starts to be less as the nose gets higher. Every inch I can get, I would be grateful for. It is manageable for sure, but when landing on unimproved, narrow strips, all the visibility and margin you can get would be helpful.

If you got to view that video I just posted, landing at Hidden Splendor is a bit like landing on levee road for a bit.

If you have time, I'd like to discuss this with you. Pro's and con's? Your 10" tailwheel has performed well for me, as is, given the abuse I have put it through.

jbicke98@gmail.com

[Enewton57]

Sounds good John - been enjoying your videos. give me call sometime.
Eric